Polishing machine



May 8, 1928. 1,668,966

T. KIRWIN ET AL.

POLISHING MACHINE Filed Jan. l2. 1927 ATTORNEY.

Patented May 8, 1928.

THOMAS IIBWIN AND HARLEY 0. PLA'US,

F EASTHAMPTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

POLISHIN G MACHINE.

Application lied January 12, 1927. serial No. 160,602.

Our invention relates to improvements in machines for nishing automobile bodies and other objects requirin to be rubbed down and polished, either rst with sandpaper, emery clot-h, or the like, and then with a polishing cloth, or with either the abrading strip or the polishing cloth without the other, and consists essentially of a shoe provided with cushioning Vsupporting means for a rubbing or finishing strip, and with means to attach said strip to said shoe, a casing mounted on said shoe and beneath which casing said shoe is adapted to reciprocate, an operating lever for said shoe, electromagnets, an armature connected with said lever and capable of being actuated by said magnets, and a switch to cause the electric current to pass through one of said magnets a-nd then the other, back and Jforth between the two, whereby they are alternateu ly energized, all in said casing, together with such other parts and members as may be necessary or desirable in order tc render the polishing machine complete and serviceable in every res ect.

The primary o ject of our invention is to produce a comparatively inexpensive, electrically operated, polishing machine, which is simple both in construction and operation, can be easily moved about, applied, and directed by the hand of the operator, and performs its work in a highly satisfactory and eiiicient manner.

Heretofore much diiliculty has been experienced, in portable machines of this general type, because of the tendency on the part of the shoe or under element to drive the casing or upper element, with the result, of course, that no polishing or other effect is produced. ln oui` construction the aforesaid tendency has been practically eliminated, due to the driving or actuating means that we employ for the shoe, and the shoe does its work properly at all times while the current is on and the operator applies said shoe to the surface being treated or polished and directs the machine to the extent and as required.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the course of the following description.

Ve attain the objects' and secure the advantages of our invention by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a front side elevation o f a polishing machine that embodies a practical form of our invention, the lar er portion of the front plate or cover being roken out` and with certain parts in section; Fig. 2, a. top plan of the shoe of said machine; Fig. 3, a central, transverse, vertical section through said machine, taken on lines 3 3, looking in the direction of the associated arrow, in Fig. l; Fig. 4, a diagrammatical view of the wiring or electric circuit in and connected with said machine; Fig. 5, a sectional detail in top plan of the movable contact member or switch and one of the fixed contact members with which the former is associated; Fig'. 6, a ii'ront elevation of the parts shown in the Fin'. 7, an end elevation of the shoe.

imilar reference Acharacters designate similar parts throughout the several views.

Although the shoe is the reciprocating element and beneath the other element, that is, the casing with its contents, which two elements comprise our polishing machine, we will first describe in detail said shoe and then said casing and contents.

rlhe shoe consists ot a horizontal plate l bent down at the ends to form end pieces 2-2 provided on top in the center with a lpair of upstanding lugs, with two pairs of tracks 5, and with two pairs ot flanged guides 6, and equipped with yielding or cushioning means, and with fastening means for a strip of abrading or polishing paper, cloth, or other material, as represented at 7 in the first view. The plate l may be cut out between the lugs e and the tracks in each of the two pairs, as shown in F ig. 2. The lugs 4 are in the transverse center oi' the plate 1 and on opposite sides of thel longitudinal. central, vertical plane of Said plate, and the two pairs of tracks 5 are on opposite sides of the transverse, central, vertical plane of said plate, with the tracks in each pair also on opposite sides of said longitudinal plane. rlhe guides 6 are at and adjacent to the longitudinal edges of the plate l, and between said edges and the tracks 5. Each of the guides 6 consists oi@ a lug on top of the plate 1, and a horizontal plate secured to the top of said lug and ex tending inwardly therefrom to form a ange or lip, indicated by the numeral 8 in Figs., 3 and 7.

The aforesaid yielding or cushioning means consists oi' a plurality of horizontal springs 9 extending between the end pieces 2, or between pins 10 that are set in and preceding view, and,

i project inwardly from said end pieces, a `felt strip 11, and bars 12 and screws 13 by means of which said-strip is secured to said end pieces. The pins 10 are so located in the end pieces 2, and the springs 9 are so supported from and by said pins, that the under sides of said springs Yare in a horizontal plane which is below the horizontal plane in which are located the bottom edges of said end pieces, consequently said springs are in a'. position to support the horizontal portion of the felt strip l1 below said bottom edges, and to aord a yielding backing, so to speak, for said strip.

r1`he felt strip 11, after being placedbeneath the springs 9, as intimated above, has its ends carried upwardly outside of the end pieces 2 and secured thereto by means of the bars 12 and the screws 13. The bars 12 are placed in a horizontal position against the upturned parts of the strip 11 at the ends thereof, and the screws 13, three (more or less) at each end, are passed through said bars and said upturned parts and screwed tightly into openings tapped in the end pieces 2 behind to receive said screws. Ready means are'thus afforded for attaching and detaching the strip 11 to and from the plate ends.

The aforesaid vfastening means for the strip 7 consists of three v(more or less) hooks 14 set in the top of the plate 1 adjacent to one end thereof, a bar 15 having three (more or less) hooks 16, said bar being located adjacent to the other end and extending transversely of said plate, and two springs 17, each having the outer end attached to said bar adjacent to one end thereof, and the inner end attached to an eye 18 set in the outer end of the adjacentl guide 6.

The strip 7 is attached at one end to the fixed hooks 14, carried down, under, and up in contact with the felt strip 11, and at the other end attached to the hooks 16 on the movable bar 15 while said bar is drawn outwardly, against the resiliency of the springs 17, and then said bar isl released to said springs and by them moved inwardly, with the result that said strip 7 is drawn tightly into contact with said felt strip and held securely in place. Obviously it is a simple matter to attach/and remove the abrading or polishing strip.

The casing consists of a top 19, a back' side 20, two ends 21, and a bottom or floor 22 located above theunder edges of said back side and ends, all integral, and a front side 23 secured by means of screws 24 to integral lugs 25 in the corners between said top, ends,

and floor, at the front edges of said parts. The front side 23 extends down below the floor 22 as far as do the back side 2O and the ends 21, and in the outer faces of said front and back sides, below the level of said floor,

are longitudinal grooves to receive the.

iianges 8 of the guides 6,-as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

Two pairs of bearing lugs 26 dep-end from the floor- 22, and two shafts'27 arejournaled in said lugs. Mounted onthe shafts 27 are four rolls 28, two on each shaft. The lugs 26 are so located that the shafts 27 carry the rolls 28, which rolls in each pair are on their y shaft outside of the lugs supporting the same, in position to bear and travel on the tracks 5. The casing is held with the rolls 28 on the tracks 5 by means of the guides 6 with.' their ianges 8 in engagement with the front and back sides of said casing, and this antifriction connection is such that the shoe can reciprocate freely while said casing is held stationary. The casing is provided on top with a handle 29, by means of which the machine is moved about and the casing held stationary while the shoe-reciprocates. The handle 29 is' supported over the longitudinal center of the casing by means of two angular brackets 30'fastened to the top 19.

Mounted in the casing and supported from the ends 21 are two electromagnets 31 having pole-pieces 32-32 that extend upwardly from the inner ends of said magnets. 'A horizontal armature 33 is slidingly arranged on angular rods 34-34 that have their upper ends tapped into the top 19, longitudinal slots 35-35 bein made in said armature to receive the horizontalv partsof said rods. The rods 34 support the armature 33 between the pole-pieces 32, and said armature is shorter than the distance between said pole-pieces, consequently, when either pole piece is energized, the armature is attracted thereto and caused to move into Contact therewith, so that a reciprocating movement is imparted to the armature when the current alternately and momentarily. is caused to pass through the magnets 31.

A long lug 36 and a short lug 37, the for-A mer above the latter, project forwardly from the back side 20, in the vertical center thereof, and tapped into said lugs, respectively, are studs 38 and 39, check-nuts 40 and 41, respectively, being employed to secure said studs in place. Mounted on the stud 38 is an operating lever 42, `and'mounted on the stud 39 is a contact member or switch `43.

The lever 42 at its upper terminal is piv otally connected at 44 with the armature 33 in the center of the same. This terminal of the lever 42 is bifurcated to receive the armature 33, and said terminal has a longitudinal slot 45 therein to receive the pivot 44 and permit the same to impart an oseillatory movement to said lever when said armature is reciprocated. In the lower terminal of the lever 42 is a longitudinal slot 46. This termnal is received between the lugs 4. and a pivot 47 passes through said lugs and the slot 46.

It is now clearly to be seen that the oscillun latory movement imparted to the lever 42, by the armature 33, is transmittedthrough the pivot 47 and the lugs 4 to the plate l, and so causes said plate to be reciprocated under the rolls 28, being guided by the engaging parts between the shoe and casing.

Secured to the floor 22, at the proper distance between the lever 42 and the casing ends 21, are two socket members 48, and in these members are two springs 49, and the inner, flanged terminals of two rubber buf- :fers 50. The end o' each socket member 48 that is adjacent to the lever 42 is open, and one of the buffers 50 protrudes from said end, being held with its angc (51) against the inner edge portions ot the opening by the spring 49 in said member, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. rihe oiiice orn the spring-pressed buffers 50 is to receive the lower terminal of the lever 42., as said lever is oscillated, and relie-re the strain on the iuioving` parts, while at the same time absorbing the shock, and tending to start the lever on its return movement each time.

.Posts 432-52, ot insulating material, are secured to the back side 2O of the casing, and having their outer terminals fastened to the front ends of said posts are two contact members 53. Each post 52 is rigidly se cured to the back side 2O b v means of a screw 54 and a pin 55, and at the outer terminal one or the contact members 53 is let into said post and secured thereto by a screw 56, whereby said post and member are rigidly held in place-sec Figs. and 6. iThe screws 54 and the pins 55 are inserted through the back into the posts 52. The contact members 53 extend towards each other and over the terminals of the switch 43, in position to be engaged by either or -said terminals when said switch is rocked on its pivot or stud 39. iThe switch 43 is insulated from the stud 39, as shown at 57 in .Fi s. 3 and 5..

n arm 58 extends forwardly from the switch 48, below the laxial center thereof, and a spring 59 has one end attached to said arm and the other end attached to a pin 60 set in the back side of the lever 42 a short distance above the slot 46 in said lever, said pin being in the longitudinal center of the lever. it follows, therefore, that. as the lever 42 is oscillated, a rocking movement is imparted to the switch 43, through the medium of the arm 53. the spirng 59, and the pin 60. The spring 59 is provided, rather than an unyielding conneet-ion, in order to render the parts more flexible, and to insure a good contact between the switch 43 and the contact members 53. lt is to be here observed that, each time the top of the lever 42 is swung to the left, vby the armature 33, the switch 43 is rocked into'contact with the right-hand contact member 53, and that each time the top of said lever is swung to the right, by said armature, said switch is rocked into contact with the left-hand contact member 53, thus alternately making and breaking the circuits through the magnets 31, and bringing about the required action of the shoe.

The electric current, for operating the mechanism, is conducted to and from the casing on two wires 61 and 62, which pass into the interior of said casing through a plug 63 set in the back side 2O and a cap 64, both of insulating material. The connection might, of course, be made through the medium of a socket and a detachable plug of ordinary types. rlhe wire 62 extends in the casing to the switch 43, being connected therewith by means of a screw 65, and the wire 62 is connected inside of said casing, by means of a screw 66, with the bach side 20. rllhe opposite ends of these main wires are connected with any suitable source of supply. A wire 67 connects one end of each magnet 31 with the adjacent contact member 53, the connection being made with said contact member with the aid or" the screw 56 which astens said contact member to its post 52. er wire 68 connects the opposite end of each magnet 31 with the casing end 21 whichsupports the magnet, a screw 69 being employed to secure the outer terminal of said wire to said end. rlhus it is seen that, when the switch 43 is in contact wit-h the left-hand contact 'member 53, the circuit is through the wire 62, said switch and said Contact member, the wire 67 that connects said contact member with the left-hand magnet 31, said magnet, the wire 68 that connects said magnet with theleft-hand end 21, the casing, and the wire 61; and that, when said switch is in Contact with the right-hand contact member 53, the circuit is through said wire 62, said switch and said last-named contact member, the wire 67 that connects said lastnamed contact member with the right-hand magnet 31, said magnet, the wire 68 that connects said last-named magnet with the righthand end 21, the casing, and said wire 6l. 1n the diagram, Fig. 4, the wires 70 and 71 take the place of the back 20.

Betere using the machine, and in the event the lever 42 stands approximately vertically, with the switch 43 out of contact with either contact member 53, it is necessary to push the shoe in one direction or the other to an extent sufficient to cause one or the other terminal of said switch to contact with one or the other of said contact members. Then, when the electric current is turned on, it passes through the contact member 53 with which said switch is in engagement, and energizes the magnet 31 connected with said contact member, with the result that the armature 33 is actuated into contact with the pole-piece 32 of said magnet.' Assuming that the left-hand magnet is energized and the armature 33 actuated to the left, the upper terminal of the lever 42 is carried to the left and the lower terminal of said lever swung to the right, thereby moving the shoe to the right and rocking the switch 43 out of engagement with the left-hand contact member 53 and into engagement with the right-hand contact member 53. rlhe lefthand magnet 31 is thus rendered inert and the armature 33 is no longer attracted to the pole-piece 43 of said magnet, while the righthand magnet 3l is energized and its polepiece 32 attracts said armature to it. The armature 33 in moving to the right into contact with the right-hand pole-piece 32, car# Vries with it the upper` terminal of the lever 42 andswings the lower terminal of said lever to the left. The lever 42 in its movement below the stud 38 to the left carries with it the shoe, and rocks the switch 43 out of engagement with the right-hand contact member 53 into engagement. again with the left-hand contact member 53, when the reversal of the parts again takes place. And so the reciprocating and oscillating movements are maintained and continued until the current is shut ofl.

The operator uses the machine by grasping the handle 29, placing the machine with the reciprocating shoe on the part to be acted on by the strip 7, and moving the machine about over the surface being treated or finished as occasion requires and to the extent necessary.

More or less change in the shape, size, construction, and arrangement of some or all ot the parts of this machine may be' made, without departing from the spirit of. our invention, or exceeding the scope of what is claimed.

`What we claim as our invention, and desire to secure bv Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, in a polishing machine, with a shoe, a casing mounted on said shoe, and guide means between said shoe and casing, whereby the former can reciprocate beneath the latter, of shoe-reciprocating means carried by said casing, magnets, carried by said casing, an armature operatively connected with said slice-reciprocating means and operatively positioned relative to said magnets. and means to open and close the circuits through said magnets each time said shoe-reciprocating means is operated.

2. The combination, in a polishing machine, with a shoe, a casing mounted on said shoe, and guide means between said shoe and casing. whereby the former can reciprocate beneath the latter, of an operating lever mounted in said casing 'and pivotally connected with said shoe, an armature mounted in said easing and pivotally connected with said lever, magnets carried by said easing, to actuate said armature, and means to open and close the circuits through said magnets each time said lever is actuated.

3. The combination, in a polishing ma- I chine, with a shoe, a, casing mounted on said shoe, and guide means between said shoe and casing, of magnets in said casing, an armature slidingly supported in said casing between adjacent pole-pieces of said magnets, a lever pivotally mounted in said casing and pivotally connected at one terminal with said armature and at the other terminal with said shoe, and means to open and close the circuits through said magnets each time said lever is rocked in one direction by said armature, whereby a reciprocating movement is imparted to said armature, an oscillating movement to 4said lever, and a reciprocating movement to said shoe. A

4. The combination, in a polishing machine, with a shoe, a casing mounted on said shoe, and guide means between said shoe and casing, of magnets in said casing, an armature slidingly supported in said bcasing between adjacent pole-piece of said magnets, a lever pivotally mounted in said casing and pivotally connected at one terminal with said armature and at the other terminal with said shoe, contact members mounted in said casing and connected with said magnets, 'a switch pivotally mounted in lsaid casing in position to engage either of said contact,

members, and means to operate said switch from sald lever.

5. The combination, in a polishing ma chine, with a shoe, a casing mounted on said shoe, and guide means between said shoe and casing, ot magnets in said casing, an armature slidingly supported in said casing bet-wcen adjacent pole-piece of said magnets, a lever pivotally mounted in said casing and pivotally connected at one terminal with said armature and at the other terminalA with said shoe, contact members mounted in said casing and connected with said magnets, a switch pivotally mounted in said casing in position to engage either of said contact members, and yielding means to operate said switch from said lever.

6. The combination, in a polishing ma chine, with a shoe, a casing mounted on said shoe, and guide means between said shoe and easing, of magnets in said casing, an armature slidingly supported in said casing be tween adjacent pole-pieces of said magnets, a lever pivotally mounted in said casing and pivotally connected at one terminal with said armature and at the other terminal 'with said shoe, contact members mounted in said casing and connected with said magnets, a

switch pivotally mounted in said casing in position to engage either of said contactv members, and a spring connecting said switch with said lever, and adapted vieldingly swung on its pivot in either direction.

tokrock said switch when said lever isl lOl 7. The combination, in a polishing machine, with a shoe, a casing mounted on sa1d shoe, and guide means between said shoe and.

casing, of magnets in said casing, an armature Slidingly supported in said casing between adjacent. pole pieces of said magnets, a. lever pivotally mounted in said casing and pivotally connected at one terminal with said armature and at the other terminal with said shoe, means to open and close the circuits through said magnets each time said lever is swung in either direction by said armature, and buffers in position to be coutacted with by said lever as it is swung in both directions.

8. The combination, in a polishing machine, with a shoe, a casing mounted on said shoe, and guide means between said shoe and casing, ot magnets in said casing, an armature slidingly supported in said casing between adjacent pole pieces of said magnets, a lever pivotally mounted in said casing and pivotally connected at one terminal with said armature and at the other terminal with said shoe, means to open and close the circuits through said magnets each time said lever is chine, with a shoe, a casing mounted on said shoe,

casino' g, of magnets mounted 1n said casing,

supporting members in said casing, an arma ture slotted to receive said supporting members and located thereby between adjacent pole pieces of said magnets, a slotted lever pivotally mounted in said casing, pivotally connected with said armature, .and pivot-ally connected with said shoe, and means to open and close the circuits through said magnets each time Said lever is swung in either direction by said armature, whereby a reciprocating movement is imparted to said armature, an oscillating movement to said lever, and a reciprocating movement to said shoe.

THOMAS KIRWIN. HARLEY O. PLAUS.

and guide means between said shoe and 

